I inherited my grandmother's taste for houses full of character. 20 years ago, inspired by her forward-thinking (she bought a villa in Ibiza in the 1960s) I bought my very first house in Guadeloupe. Over the years, I have developed a passion for architecture, decoration and the history of objects. I draw my inspiration from everywhere, from exhibitions to travels, flea markets to chance encounters. I love the most popular seaside resorts on the Atlantic coast, often dating back to Napoleon III's era. I'm particularly interested in houses with a history that often goes back hundreds of years, and with architecture that is typical in a region. Once I've found my “precious stone”, my passion is to wake the sleeping beauty up. This house is a typical example.
It is a seaside villa, an authentic Touquettoise building, listed as Remarkable Heritage in France. Influenced by British and Norman architecture, it is distinguished by its steeply pitched hipped roof, alternating stone and red brick facades, and colourful wooden balconies and shutters. Spread out over four floors, it has sea views and is just 200 metres from the beach.
It is part of the history of the seaside resort of Le Touquet, which began in 1837. Alphonse Daloz (1800-1885), a Parisian notary, decided to buy the Domaine du Touquet, then a wild hamlet attached to the commune of Cucq. From 1855, Daloz began planting maritime pines to hold the dune in place, creating a vast forest where he regularly invited his Parisian friends for hunting parties. Among them was Hippolyte de Villemessant, founder of the newspaper Le Figaro, who in 1874 suggested to Daloz that Le Touquet should be a seaside resort between the sea and the forest. This villa was built in the 1930s. I acquired it around 15 years ago.
A house in the heart of an authentic, elegant and family-friendly resort. The seaside resort is vibrant all year round and the villa is just a few minutes from the shopping streets and market, and only a few dozen metres from the beach. The rooms are all themed, evoking either a local feature or one of our iconic journeys that we wanted to share. There is a mysterious room hidden away somewhere, which is the first game the children play when they arrive at this tall villa. A much sought-after beach hut, which we obtained after a ten-year wait, equipped with many treasures, is available to our guests for the duration of their stay.
Go for a bike ride in the forest, along the seafront, or along the mouth of the Canche. Visit "Le Chat Bleu", a renowned chocolate factory in Le Touquet, ideal for sweet lovers in search of authentic flavours. Discover "Beussent Lachelle", a chocolatier who works with beans from his own plantation; his Ecuadorian national cocoa bar is a real treat. Stop off at "Aux Mignardises Saint-Jean", the best ice-cream parlour in the resort, established in 1976. Explore "Terre des Fromages", a cheese-maker, cheese maturer and ardent defender of farmhouse and artisanal cheeses made from raw milk. Enjoy fusion cuisine at the "Le Mezquité" restaurant, where northern French products are enhanced by Mexican methods, sauces and spices. Take a stroll through the Halles du Touquet every Thursday and Saturday morning, as well as Mondays in summer, for a feast for the eyes and the stomach!
On the ground floor, there is a living room with a fireplace, a dining room and a kitchen, including an additional dining area. The basement has a bicycle storage area and a laundry room with a washing machine and tumble dryer. The villa has two staircases leading to the first floor, each providing access to separate parts of the house. The first leads to two bedrooms: "La Piscine", a master bedroom with en suite bathroom, balcony and lovely sea views, and "La Plage", a master bedroom with a sink. The second staircase leads to a room called “Le Bureau”, which leads to a mezzanine with two beds and the “La Mode” bedroom, with a double bed. The second floor includes a room called "Les Sports", with magnificent sea views, and a large bathroom with shower and bath. The house also has a third floor in a tower, with a mysterious room that will delight children.
ref 735127
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